Mike Nugent converted 20 of 23 field goal attempts during the 2004 season (one was blocked) and led the nation in 50-yard field goals with five. In the win over Marshall, his 55-yarder as time ran out provided OSU with a 24-21 win. In a 22-14 victory at North Carolina State, he tied a school record with five field goals. He was also a perfect 27-of-27 in the point after touchdown (PAT) department and had 34 touchbacks on 55 kickoffs. The Lou Groza Award is the 30th major individual award won by an Ohio State player.

Eberle, a sophomore from Nuremberg, Germany, is poised to set the Utah State record for field goal accuracy, finishing a season in which he has made 16-of-18 attempts thus far. Included in that total is a 52-yarder that is the longest field goal by an FBS kicker who has made at least 87% of his attempts. That kick came as part of a performance in which he went 4-for-4 on field goals and 7-for-7 on PATs, totaling 19 points to tie for the highest-scoring game by a kicker in FBS this season.